Over the last 58 years, the Pink family has provided hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions of Southern Californians with one of the basic necessities of life: A Really Great Chili Dog. Pink's has also managed to feed a virtual "Who's Who" of the Hollywood crowd.
Pink's began in 1939 when hot dogs were just a dime, and Paul Pink decided to locate his pushcart on La Brea Avenue in Los Angeles, where he sold around a hundred hot dogs a day. A few years later, he retired the cart and moved to their current location just down the street on the corner of La Brea and Melrose. Paul handled the supplies and book-keeping duties while his wife Betty managed the stand.
Over the years, Pink's regular customers were likely to have rubbed shoulders with many of the Rich & Famous Set, such as Liz Taylor, Jay Leno, Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Bruce Willis, Demi Moore, Barbara Streisand, Michael J. Fox, Roseanne, Kim Bassinger, Kiefer Sutherland, Diana Rosss, David Janssen, Richard Dreyfuss, Kurt Russell, Goldie Hawn, Michael Jackson and Eddie Murphy. Inside the restaurant is a Wall of Fame featuring the photographs of many of these stars.
When Pink's celebrated their 55th Anniversary a few years ago, Mr. Pink was quoted in "The Los Angeles Times" saying: "I can't believe it, a million dollar business with a lousy hot dog..." Daughter Gloria Pink dressed in pink for the occasion.
Paul passed away early last year, and his son, Richard Pink, now runs the family business and oversees their considerable real estate interests from the office building they built on the lot next door. Pink's is still in the same building, at the same location, but they sell 1500 hot dogs a day now and a chili dog will cost you just over two dollars.
If you find yourself in L.A. looking for a great chili dog, stop by and say you read about them in The Frankfurter Chronicles. Who knows, your favorite star may be sitting at the next table...
Pink's Famous Chili Dogs: 709 North La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90038 (323) 931-4223
